How to Find What’s Holding Your Business Back

Timestamp Overview:

00:00 Get ready to uncover powerful insights from your last year.

02:52 Why planning matters.

04:19 Start by looking back.

05:32 Month-by-month deep dive.

07:58 Identify what worked and what didn’t work.

09:58 Decide what to keep and what you want to change.

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Dream Big, Plan Smart: Set Your Year Up for Success

As we kick off the new year, many of us feel the pull of possibility and motivation to set ambitious goals. January often brings a sense of renewal, making it the perfect time to reflect, dream big, and plan smart.

I’m starting the year with the Dream Big, Plan Smart series—a step-by-step process to help you create a year you can look back on with pride and satisfaction.

In this first episode, we’ll explore why planning matters and how reflecting on the past year can set the stage for a more intentional and impactful 2025.

Why Planning Matters

Some business owners shy away from planning, fearing it might stifle spontaneity. But the truth is, planning creates the freedom to design the life and business you truly want. Those who set clear goals and make actionable plans see steady, consistent growth. They avoid the day-to-day scramble and build systems that allow them to focus on meaningful, big-picture goals.

For example, in my own business, I noticed a huge shift when I began planning quarterly instead of just setting yearly goals. By breaking down large goals into manageable chunks and scheduling key milestones, I was able to streamline launches and free up time to focus on growth strategies. This approach not only reduced stress but also improved my client delivery and bottom line.

Imagine going through the year feeling organized, focused, and clear about your direction. When you’re not constantly reacting, your business benefits. Your clients notice the difference, your cash flow stabilizes, and you can invest your energy into scaling rather than surviving.

Starting with a Look Back

Before we dive into dreaming up what’s possible for 2025, we’re going to do something that might surprise you – we’re going to take a thorough look at the year that just ended. Understanding where you’ve been is crucial to plotting where you want to go. Think about it: If you repeat what you did last year, you’ll likely see the same results. To create meaningful change, you need to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and what matters most moving forward.

To make this process easier, I’ve created a free workbook that will guide you through each step. You can download it and follow along as we go through this exercise together.

Your Year-in-Review Process

Begin your review by going through your calendar month by month. Look for key events, launches, and milestones that define each period of your year. This step helps you recall not just the big moments but also smaller achievements or challenges that might otherwise be overlooked.

Using your workbook, examine each month of last year in detail. Look at your total revenue and identify which offers or services generated that income. Consider the major projects you launched and the marketing initiatives you implemented. Take note of significant client wins and personal milestones that impacted your business.

Next, take a close look at your financials. Break down your revenue by month and identify which offers or services contributed most to your income. This analysis will give you a clearer understanding of what’s driving your business’s success.

Finally, evaluate your marketing efforts. Review your email campaigns and promotional activities. Reflect on what seemed to resonate with your audience and what did not perform as expected. I often find that reviewing the open and click rates of my email campaigns reveals surprising insights into what topics my audience values most.

Key Questions to Ask

When reviewing your year, ask yourself these essential questions:

First, identify what worked well. Reflect on the strategies that consistently brought in quality leads or the offers that resonated most with your clients. For example, I found that personalized video pitches sent to prospective clients had a significantly higher conversion rate than generic email outreach.
Next, consider what didn’t work. Be honest about the marketing efforts that fell flat or the goals that were repeatedly postponed. Pinpoint both internal challenges, like mindset blocks or exhaustion, and external obstacles, such as market changes or unexpected life events. One year, I realized I had spent too much time on a social media platform that didn’t align with my audience, which prompted a shift to more effective channels.
Lastly, ask yourself what felt good. Pay attention to the projects or tasks that you genuinely enjoyed. Often, the activities that feel the most fulfilling also have a significant positive impact on your business. For me, hosting live strategy sessions always leaves me energized and inspired, so I’ve made it a point to include more of them in my schedule.

Build on What’s Working

With a clear picture of the past, you’re ready to make intentional decisions for the future. Focus on the areas that brought the best results, and look for ways to amplify those successes. Instead of chasing trends or starting from scratch, prioritize simplifying and refining the elements of your business that are already thriving.

For example, you could double down on a course that is performing well and add bonus content and a live Q&A session. This small enhancement can lead to increased sales and higher customer satisfaction without creating an entirely new offer.

Let Go of What’s Not Serving You

Equally important is identifying what’s no longer serving you. Some activities consume valuable time and energy without delivering meaningful results. Whether it’s a marketing channel that’s underperforming or a service that no longer aligns with your goals, give yourself permission to let it go. By doing so, you’ll create space for opportunities that better align with your vision.

Did your review show that a service you offer is profitable, but draining on your time and energy and not filling your cup? Letting it go may allow you to focus on scaling other offers, which not only align better with your goals, but also free up time to enjoy your personal life more fully.

Remember that every time you say yes to something, you say no to something else. Likewise, saying no to activities that aren’t serving your goals allows you to say yes to more fulfilling activities.

Making This Process Work for You

This review deserves dedicated time and attention. Consider setting aside time in your calendar in the next week or two to reflect and review. Use the workbook to ensure you’re covering all important aspects of your business review.

Remember, this isn’t just about analyzing numbers – it’s about understanding what truly works for you and your business on every level.

Next Steps in Our Series

This review lays the foundation for our entire planning process. In the next installment of our Dream Big, Plan Smarter series, we’ll use these insights to design a business model that actually supports your life goals, not just your revenue targets.

Your Action Steps

Download the planning workbook
Block out time for your year-in-review
Gather your calendar, financial data, and marketing metrics
Work through each section of the workbook
Save your insights for our next planning session

Join us next time as we transform these insights into a concrete plan for the year ahead – one that aligns with your biggest dreams while being grounded in smart strategy.

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